The Official Blog of the Gwinnett Braves, Triple-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson, pitching on a rehab assignment, threw 5.0 scoreless innings to lead the Gwinnett Braves to a 5-2 victory over the Louisville Bats on Sunday at Coolray Field. Ernesto Mejia, Rusty Ryal and Brian Friday all homered off Bats’ starter and former G-Brave Todd Redmond in a five-run fourth inning.

Hanson (W, 1-0) allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out five in his first start for Gwinnett since May 31, 2009. The right-hander threw 78 pitches, 48 for strikes in his first game action since being placed on Atlanta’s disabled list on July 31 with lower back stiffness.

“My back felt better, that was the main thing,” said Hanson. “I didn’t have much time to prepare for this start, but I still went out and made pitches. My off-speed stuff was really good. I felt really good with my curveball and slider. I feel good about the way I threw today. I’m looking forward to my next start.”

It was a scoreless game until the bottom of the fourth inning as Hanson and Redmond were caught in a pitcher’s duel. However, Gwinnett opened the floodgates as Josh Kroeger drew a walk and Mejia followed with a two-run blast that cleared the centerfield batter’s eye for a 2-0 lead. Stefan Gartrell stayed hot at the plate with a single, and Ryal followed with a two-run shot of his own, his first with Gwinnett, to give the G-Braves a 4-0 lead. Two hitters later, Friday laced a solo home run to left for the third Gwinnett homer of the frame and a 5-0 advantage.

The three-homer frame was the first in Gwinnett Braves history. The last instance of three home runs in a single inning by a Braves’ Triple-A club came on May 13, 2008, when the Richmond Braves slugged three homers in the sixth inning as part of a 7-1 win at Indianapolis.

Yohan Flande worked 2.0 scoreless innings in relief of Hanson, making his first relief appearance since April 5. The left-hander allowed just one hit and struck out one.

Louisville added two runs in their half of the eighth inning off Peter Moylan to cut the lead to 5-2. Felix Perez capped a 2-for-4 game with a two-run single off Moylan scoring Cody Puckett and Didi Gregorius. Anthony Varvaro closed the door on the Bats with a perfect frame in the ninth inning for his fifth save of the season.

Redmond (L, 8-9), making his first start at Coolray Field since a trade that sent him to the Cincinnati organization, allowed five earned runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings. The longtime G-Brave yielded three homers, walked one and struck out four. Kanekoa Texeira and Nick Masset combined to work 2.0 scoreless innings following the departure of Redmond.

Mejia finished 1-for-4 with his team-leading 24th home run and his International League best 84th and 85th RBIs. Ryal went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Friday finished 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Photo courtesy of Chris Roughgarden

Monday, August 13th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:

The Gwinnett Braves (55-68) take on the Louisville Bats (48-75) in the series finale on Monday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Randall Delgado (2-2, 4.43) will start for the G-Braves against right-hander Pedro Villarreal (3-9, 4.12) of the Bats. The radio broadcast will air on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.

Norfolk Tides (2nd IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL North)

All kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, a bag of chips and a small soda on Kids Eat Free Monday. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

The Atlanta Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson will have his first minor league rehab start on Sunday at Coolray Field for Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves righty landed on the 15-day DL for Atlanta with lower back soreness. It is undetermined how many starts Hanson will need prior to heading back to the Braves rotation, regardless the Triple-A offense’s due to face him certainly have their work cut out.

The former G-Brave leads the Atlanta team in wins with his 12-5 record, alongside a 4.29 ERA in 22 starts this season. Hanson has also registered 114 strikeouts to 54 walks in 126.0 innings of work in the National League East Division. Opponents are batting .267 off the right-hander alongside his 1.44 WHIP.

G-Braves fans had the luxury of witnessing Tommy Hanson start for Gwinnett 11 times during the 2009 season. That year, Hanson went 3-3 with a 1.49 ERA, including 90 strikeouts and just 17 walks yielded in 66.1 innings pitched for the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

Photo courtesy of 2009 Gwinnett Braves staff photographers

Sunday’s game against the Louisville Bats becomes even more interesting for Hanson as he is set to face former Gwinnett star Todd Redmond, who will be making his first start against his former teammates. On the season, the Bats possess one of the worst records in the International League, but they have shown some fight in the second half of the season. Either way, both sides will be primed and ready for Sunday’s showdown.

Redmond spent four years in Triple-A Gwinnett with the Atlanta Braves affiliate. The right-hander was one of the more consistent pitchers in Gwinnett franchise history. During the 2012 campaign, Redmond led the pitching staff in a number of categories, including wins, strikeouts and innings pitched. It should be a great match-up between a pair of workhorse’s on Sunday afternoon.

The Gwinnett Braves (53-68) take on the Louisville Bats (48-73) in game three of the four-game series on Sunday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 5:05 PM. Right-hander Tommy Hanson (0-0, 0.00), on a Major League rehab assignment, is scheduled to start for the G-Braves against former Gwinnett right-hander Todd Redmond (8-8, 3.36) of the Bats. Listen to the broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.

Left-hander Sean Gilmartin earned his first Triple-A victory with 6.2 impressive innings as the Gwinnett Braves defeated the Louisville Bats, 8-2 on Saturday night at Coolray Field. Stefan Gartrell led the offensive attack with a 2-for-3 game including his 18th home run and three RBIs. Josh Kroeger added a pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

Gilmartin (W, 1-1), the Atlanta Braves’ first-round pick in 2011, made his Coolray Field debut on Saturday after starting his Triple-A career with two road outings. The left-hander was outstanding, limiting the Bats to just two runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out three. The Florida State University product threw 96 pitches, 61 for strikes and exited to cheers from the 7,747 fans in attendance.

The G-Braves gave Gilmartin an early lead to work with, scoring a run in the first inning.Luis Durango led off the game with a walk from Louisville starter and former Parkview High School standout Tim Gustafson. Durango stole second base for his International League leading 41st theft of the season, then scored on an awkward defensive play by the Bats. Ernesto Mejia reached on a dropped third strike, and catcher Corky Miller’s throw was dropped by first baseman Neftali Soto for an error, allowing Durango to come home.

Louisville tied the game at 1-1 against Gilmartin in the third inning. Miller led off the inning with a walk, reaching base for the first of three times on the night, then was driven home on an RBI single by Denis Phipps.

Gwinnett took the lead for good in the fourth. Mejia led off the frame with a double that was scorched into the left-center gap. Gartrell followed with a two-run blast to left-center, giving the G-Braves a 3-1 lead.

Gartrell drove home Felix Pie with a double in the sixth, raising the lead to 4-1. Gilmartin gave that run back to Louisville in the top of the seventh as Miller blasted a solo shot to left. After a walk to Phipps and a single by Willie Harris, the Gwinnett starter’s night was done.

Ernesto Mejia’s two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth led the Gwinnett Braves to a 6-4 victory over the Durham Bulls in the series finale on Sunday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The G-Braves entered the ninth trailing the Bulls 4-3 and three outs away from being swept in the four-game series. The Bulls’ closer Dan De La Rosa immediately got into trouble as he walked Josh Wilson and with one out, walked Brian Friday. G-Braves’ leadoff batter Luis Durango beat out a ground ball to short to load to bases with one out. Wilson then scored from third on a passed ball by catcher Chris Gimenez to tie the game, 4-4. After Josh Kroeger popped-up to short for the second out of the inning, Mejia delivered the clutch single, plating Friday and Durango with the decisive runs.

The comeback win for the G-Braves came after they allowed Durham to come back from a two-run deficit, taking a late lead 4-3.

With the game scoreless in the top of the fourth, Gwinnett got on the board first. Durham starting pitcher Cesar Ramos walked Stefan Gartrell to begin the inning and a groundout to first by Jose Yepez moved Gartrell to second. Terry Tiffee then singled to right, scoring Gartrell from third to give the G-Braves an early 1-0 lead.

Durham rallied in the bottom of the fourth, as former Braves’ infielder Brooks Conrad lined a two-out double to left off Gwinnett starter Sean Gilmartin and scored when Evan Longoria singled to left. The game was tied 1-1 after four.

In the top of the fifth, Rusty Ryal led off with a single to right and moved to third on a single by Friday. A bunt single by Durango scored Ryal from third giving the G-Braves a 2-1 lead. Then with one out, Mejia cracked a single that scored Friday from second moving the Gwinnett lead to 3-1.

Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess

Sunday, August 12th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:

The Gwinnett Braves (53-68) take on the Louisville Bats (48-73) in game three of the four-game series on Sunday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 5:05 PM. Atlanta Braves’ right-hander Tommy Hanson (12-5, 4.29 with Atlanta) is expected to make a rehab start for Gwinnett. Former G-Braves right-hander Todd Redmond (8-8, 3.36) will start for the Bats. The radio broadcast will air on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, Georgia.

Louisville Bats (3rd IL West) vs Gwinnett (4th IL North)

Bring your ball and glove for a pre-game catch in the outfield starting when the gates open and lasting for 20 minutes on Family Sunday. All kids 12 and under will get to run the bases following the game. The Gwinnett Braves will also be recognizing organizations that fund or run safety programs for children on Summer Safety night. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

The Atlanta Braves 2011 MLB Draft No. 1 overall pick Sean Gilmartin is set to make his Coolray Field debut on Saturday night for the Gwinnett Braves. The southpaw is 0-1 with a 3.95 ERA in his first professional season of his career. Gilmartin will face the local boy for Louisville, right-hander Tim Gustafson in a 7:05 p.m. first pitch in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

The G-Braves lost to the Louisville Bats, 3-2, in the opener of a four-game series on Friday night at Coolray Field. Jair Jurrjens was solid for 6.0 innings of two-run baseball, but exited the game with a no decision. Neftali Soto led the way for Louisville, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

Gwinnett held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but Louisville battled back and took a 3-2 lead against Anthony Varvaro in the top of the eighth. Didi Gregorius reached base on an error by first baseman Ernesto Mejia and scored on a single up the middle by Henry Rodriguez. Varvaro (L, 0-2) yielded just that unearned run on two hits over an inning, but it was enough to suffer the loss.

The G-Braves scored in the first inning as Felix Pie doubled to left-center, took third on a fielding error by Bats’ center-fielder Denis Phipps, and scored on Mejia’s sacrifice fly to right.

Louisville tied the score in the top of the second against Jurrjens as Soto crushed a solo blast over the G-Braves’ bullpen for his 14th home run of the season.

Gwinnett responded to retake the lead in the third inning. Luis Durango singled and Pie walked, and both moved into scoring position on a double steal. Durango’s Triple-A leading 40th stolen base put him at third, where he’d walk home on a single by Terry Tiffee.

Again, however, the Bats tied the score against Jurrjens. Louisville starting pitcher Chad Reineke, 2-for-3 at the plate on Friday, led off the sixth with a single. Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by second baseman Rusty Ryal and Soto followed with a single to score Reineke. Soto’s second RBI of the game tied the score at 2-2.

Only one of two runs scored against Jurrjens was earned. The right-hander, starting on a rehab assignment for the Atlanta Braves, scattered four hits over 6.0 innings, walked none and struck out two. Jurrjens threw 78 pitches, 52 for strikes in an efficient outing.

Saturday, August 11th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:

The Gwinnett Braves (53-68) take on the Louisville Bats (48-73) in game two of the four-game series on Saturday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Left-hander Sean Gilmartin (0-1, 3.95) is scheduled to start for the G-Braves against right-hander Tim Gustafson (4-3, 4.30) of the Bats. Listen to the broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.

Louisville Bats (3rd IL West) vs Gwinnett (4th IL North)

Saturday night is Outdoor Night at Coolray Field, featuring a Tailgate Stool Giveaway for the first 2,000 fans through the gates sponsored by Charter Business. Atlanta’s RV Summer Sale also continues, visit gwinnettbraves.com for more details. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

The Atlanta Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson will have his first minor league rehab start on Sunday at Coolray Field for Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves righty landed on the 15-day DL for Atlanta with lower back soreness. It is undetermined how many starts Hanson will need prior to heading back to the Braves rotation, regardless the Triple-A offense’s due to face him certainly have their work cut out.

The former G-Brave leads the Atlanta team in wins with his 12-5 record, alongside a 4.29 ERA in 22 starts this season. Hanson has also registered 114 strikeouts to 54 walks in 126.0 innings of work in the National League East Division. Opponents are batting .267 off the right-hander alongside his 1.44 WHIP.

G-Braves fans had the luxury of witnessing Tommy Hanson start for Gwinnett 11 times during the 2009 season. That year, Hanson went 3-3 with a 1.49 ERA, including 90 strikeouts and just 17 walks yielded in 66.1 innings pitched for the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

Sunday’s game against the Louisville Bats becomes even more interesting for Hanson as he is set to face former Gwinnett star Todd Redmond, who will be making his first start against his former teammates. On the season, the Bats possess one of the worst records in the International League, but they have shown some fight in the second half of the season. Either way, both sides will be primed and ready for Sunday’s showdown.

The Gwinnett Braves (53-68) take on the Louisville Bats (48-73) in game three of the four-game series on Sunday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 5:05 PM. Right-hander Tommy Hanson (0-0, 0.00), on a Major League rehab assignment, is scheduled to start for the G-Braves against former Gwinnett right-hander Todd Redmond (8-8, 3.36) of the Bats. Listen to the broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.

Bring your ball and glove for a pre-game catch in the outfield starting when the gates open and lasting for 20 minutes on Family Sunday. All kids 12 and under will get to run the bases following the game. The Gwinnett Braves will be recognizing organizations that fund or run safety programs for children of Summer Safety.

Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

Gwinnett starter Julio Teheran surrendered six runs over four innings and the bullpen allowed four more runs as the Braves fell 10-2 to the Norfolk Tides on Thursday night at Coolray Field. Norfolk entered the series 0-7 against the G-Braves this season, but won the series, 3-1.

L.J. Hoes went 4-for-6 in the leadoff spot for Norfolk, while Bill Hall and Brandon Waring each plated three RBIs in the rout.

Norfolk broke a scoreless tie with a three-run second inning against Teheran and never trailed from there. Ronny Paulino led off with a single and moved to third on a ground-rule double by Luis Exposito. Both scored one batter later as Waring launched his second home run of the series and 10th of the season, a shot just clearing the right-center fence.

Joe Mahoney singled and scored on a Jack Wilson throwing error to raise the lead to 4-0 in the third inning, and an RBI single by Hoes and sacrifice fly by Hall made it 6-0 in the fourth.

Teheran (L, 6-7) lost for the second-straight outing as a result of five earned runs on eight hits including the Waring home run. He walked one and struck out three, throwing 85 pitches, 62 for strikes.

Buddy Carlyle relieved the right-hander and worked a perfect fifth inning with two strikeouts. However, the Tides tacked on two earned runs against Carlyle in the sixth. Hoes roped a two-out single to start the rally and Xavier Avery followed with a single of his own. Hall drove in both runners on a double down the right-field line, raising the lead to 8-0. Carlyle lasted 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

Norfolk starter Jason Berken threw scoreless baseball over the first six frames before allowing a pair of runs in the seventh. Josh Kroeger continued his hot hitting with a double, then came home as Ruben Gotay lifted a double into the left-center gap. Brian Friday then scored Gotay with a single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 8-2. Luis Durango and Gotay were the only two G-Braves to register multi-hit nights. Durango went 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot, while Gotay went 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI.

Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess

Friday, August 10th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:

The Gwinnett Braves (53-67) begin a four-game series against the Louisville Bats (47-73) on Friday night at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Jair Jurrjens (3-4, 5.18), currently on the Atlanta disabled list, is scheduled to make a rehab start for the G-Braves. The Bats will counter with right-hander Chad Reineke (5-7, 4.35). Listen to the broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, Georgia.

Louisville Bats (3rd IL West) vs Gwinnett (4th IL North)

Put on your hula skirts and join the G-Braves for Beach Night on Friday. Coolray Field will get tropical with beachy music, movie clips and plenty of fun music to keep you dancing all game. Fox 5 Friday Fireworks follow the 7:05 PM game. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

Ernesto Mejia’s two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth led the Gwinnett Braves to a 6-4 victory over the Durham Bulls in the series finale on Sunday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The G-Braves entered the ninth trailing the Bulls 4-3 and three outs away from being swept in the four-game series. The Bulls’ closer Dan De La Rosa immediately got into trouble as he walked Josh Wilson and with one out, walked Brian Friday. G-Braves’ leadoff batter Luis Durango beat out a ground ball to short to load to bases with one out. Wilson then scored from third on a passed ball by catcher Chris Gimenez to tie the game, 4-4. After Josh Kroeger popped-up to short for the second out of the inning, Mejia delivered the clutch single, plating Friday and Durango with the decisive runs.

The comeback win for the G-Braves came after they allowed Durham to come back from a two-run deficit, taking a late lead 4-3.

With the game scoreless in the top of the fourth, Gwinnett got on the board first. Durham starting pitcher Cesar Ramos walked Stefan Gartrell to begin the inning and a groundout to first by Jose Yepez moved Gartrell to second. Terry Tiffee then singled to right, scoring Gartrell from third to give the G-Braves an early 1-0 lead.

Durham rallied in the bottom of the fourth, as former Braves’ infielder Brooks Conrad lined a two-out double to left off Gwinnett starter Sean Gilmartin and scored when Evan Longoria singled to left. The game was tied 1-1 after four.

In the top of the fifth, Rusty Ryal led off with a single to right and moved to third on a single by Friday. A bunt single by Durango scored Ryal from third giving the G-Braves a 2-1 lead. Then with one out, Mejia cracked a single that scored Friday from second moving the Gwinnett lead to 3-1.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Hamby

Monday, August 6th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:

The Gwinnett Braves (52-64) return home to begin an eight game homestand Monday night with the first of four against the Norfolk Tides (58-58). The G-Braves will have right-hander Randall Delgado (2-1, 4.32) on the mound against Norfolk left-hander Dana Eveland (3-4, 3.13). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. Listen to the broadcast on AM 550/FM 102.9 WDUN in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play by play.

Norfolk Tides (2nd IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL North)

The 11Alive News will be hosting a live Olympic broadcast from 5 to 6 p.m. on Monday, so come to Coolray Field at 4:30 PM to be on live television. Give reaction to the events and participate in Olympic Trivia! Paid admission is required for participants. It will be Kids Eat Free Monday, with all kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, a bag of chips and a small soda. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

Felix Pie went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, leading the Gwinnett Braves to a 6-4 win over the Norfolk Tides on Tuesday night at Coolray Field. The G-Braves scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 5-2 lead and never trailed the rest of the way, moving to within 6.0 games of the Tides for second place in the International League South Division with the victory.

Norfolk jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second against Gwinnett starter Yohan Flande. The left-hander allowed Luis Exposito to reach on a fielder’s choice, and Brandon Waring doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Jamie Hoffmann’s sacrifice fly scored Exposito, and Blake Davis followed with a single scoring Waring for a 2-0 Tides lead.

Gwinnett cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third inning against Tides’ starter Jake Arrieta as Jose Constanza reached on his second walk of the game and scored on Pie’s double down the left-field line.

The G-Braves got to Arrieta again in the fourth, putting together the game-deciding four-run frame. Stefan Gartrell led off the inning with a double and advanced to third base on a passed ball. He’d score to tie the game as the very next batter, Terry Tiffee, singled to left-center. Josh Kroeger reached on a fielder’s choice and took third on a single by Rusty Ryal, then scored on J.C. Boscan’s sharp single to left field to give Gwinnett a 3-2 lead. Following a Constanza single, Pie came through in the clutch once again with a two-run single to left-center scoring Ryal and Boscan for a 5-2 advantage.

Norfolk responded with a run in the fifth off Flande, but Gwinnett recovered that run in their half of the fifth as Gartrell reached on an error, took third on a double by Tiffee and scored on a groundout by Kroeger.

The Tides threatened to come back from the 6-3 deficit, scoring a run against Dusty Hughes in the seventh on a single by Joe Mahoney. However, Hughes (H, 6), Andy Russell (H, 2) and Anthony Varvaro (S, 4) would combine to allow just that run over the final 4.0 innings in relief of Flande. The left-hander (W, 6-8) was solid yet again for the G-Braves, allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings. He walked two and struck out three, throwing 91 pitches, 55 for strikes.

Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess

Wednesday, August 8th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:

The Gwinnett Braves (53-65) play game three of the four-game series against the Norfolk Tides (59-59) on Wednesday evening at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Right-hander Miguel Batista (1-0, 1.80) is slated to start for the G-Braves, while the Tides counter with right-hander Steve Johnson (4-8, 2.86). Listen to the broadcast on WDUN 550 AM and 102.9 FM in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.

Norfolk Tides (2nd IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL North)

Attend the G-Braves game on Winning Wednesday for a chance to win big. If the G-Braves are victorious, everyone in attendance will receive a special discount on future game tickets, courtesy of Georgia Lottery. Baseball Bingo is back for the second time this year as the first 1,500 fans through the gates will be able to participate to win prizes. Motor over to Coolray Field for Bike Night, featuring a pre-game ride around the field and motorcycle vendors on the concourse. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

The Norfolk Tides scored five runs after the fifth inning to take the opener of a four-game series, 7-4 over the Gwinnett Braves on Monday night at Coolray Field. Randall Delgado allowed three runs over 5.2 innings in the losing effort for Gwinnett, while Norfolk starter Dana Eveland yielded only two unearned runs over 6.0 innings for the victory.

With the loss, Gwinnett’s first in eight meetings with Norfolk this season, the G-Braves find themselves 7.0 games behind the Tides for second place in the International League South Division.

Gwinnett opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning against Eveland. Luis Durango and Jack Wilson led off with back-to-back singles, and both took off on a double steal attempt. Wilson was caught at second but ruled safe as Tides’ second baseman Ryan Adams was charged with a missed catch error. Both runners advanced into scoring position on the play, though neither was credited with a steal. Stefan Gartrell grounded out to score Durango for the first run, and the G-Braves boosted their lead to 2-0 on another double steal attempt. Jose Yepez was caught stealing second base, but stayed in the rundown long enough for Wilson to cross the plate.

Norfolk responded to tie the game in the third inning. Brandon Waring doubled to lead off the inning against Delgado, and Jamie Hoffman connected on a two-run homer to deep left field to even the score at 2-2.

The Tides took the lead in the sixth inning as the first three hitters reached to load the bases. Delgado forced Luis Exposito into a double play, but L.J. Hoes scored as a result, giving Norfolk a 3-2 lead. Billy Bullock relieved Delgado with two outs in the inning and loaded the bases again with a walk, but struck out Blake Davis to end the threat.

Bullock would not be as fortunate the next inning, allowing two runs on three hits. Adams and hoes each reached on one-out singles and an RBI double by Joe Mahoney and sacrifice fly by Ronny Paulino raised the lead to 5-2. Buddy Carlyle came on in relief of Bullock and worked 1.2 scoreless innings, holding the deficit at three. Peter Moylan appeared for the G-Braves in the ninth and gave up two more runs to the Tides. Adams and Hoes again singled to start the inning, and a fielder’s choice by Paulino and single by Exposito drove them each in to make it 7-2.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Hamby

Tuesday, August 7th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:

The Gwinnett Braves (52-65) play game two of the four-game series against the Norfolk Tides (59-58) on Tuesday evening at Coolray Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. Left-hander Yohan Flande (5-8, 3.96) is slated to start for the G-Braves, while the Tides counter with right-hander Jake Arrieta (3-1, 3.63). Listen to the broadcast on AM 550/FM 102.9 WDUN in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play by play.

Norfolk Tides (2nd IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL North)

Save up to 50% off tickets on 2 For 1 Tuesday by visiting GwinnettBraves.com/Tuesday. Print your coupon from home and present it at the Box Office to redeem. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

Ernesto Mejia’s two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth led the Gwinnett Braves to a 6-4 victory over the Durham Bulls in the series finale on Sunday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The G-Braves entered the ninth trailing the Bulls 4-3 and three outs away from being swept in the four-game series. The Bulls’ closer Dan De La Rosa immediately got into trouble as he walked Josh Wilson and with one out, walked Brian Friday. G-Braves’ leadoff batter Luis Durango beat out a ground ball to short to load to bases with one out. Wilson then scored from third on a passed ball by catcher Chris Gimenez to tie the game, 4-4. After Josh Kroeger popped-up to short for the second out of the inning, Mejia delivered the clutch single, plating Friday and Durango with the decisive runs.

The comeback win for the G-Braves came after they allowed Durham to come back from a two-run deficit, taking a late lead 4-3.

With the game scoreless in the top of the fourth, Gwinnett got on the board first. Durham starting pitcher Cesar Ramos walked Stefan Gartrell to begin the inning and a groundout to first by Jose Yepez moved Gartrell to second. Terry Tiffee then singled to right, scoring Gartrell from third to give the G-Braves an early 1-0 lead.

Durham rallied in the bottom of the fourth, as former Braves’ infielder Brooks Conrad lined a two-out double to left off Gwinnett starter Sean Gilmartin and scored when Evan Longoria singled to left. The game was tied 1-1 after four.

In the top of the fifth, Rusty Ryal led off with a single to right and moved to third on a single by Friday. A bunt single by Durango scored Ryal from third giving the G-Braves a 2-1 lead. Then with one out, Mejia cracked a single that scored Friday from second moving the Gwinnett lead to 3-1.

Monday, August 6th G-Braves Starting Line-up from Coolray Field:

The Gwinnett Braves (52-64) return home to begin an eight game homestand Monday night with the first of four against the Norfolk Tides (58-58). The G-Braves will have right-hander Randall Delgado (2-1, 4.32) on the mound against Norfolk left-hander Dana Eveland (3-4, 3.13). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. Listen to the broadcast on AM 550/FM 102.9 WDUN in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play by play.

Norfolk Tides (2nd IL South) vs Gwinnett (4th IL North)

The 11Alive News will be hosting a live Olympic broadcast from 5 to 6 p.m. on Monday, so come to Coolray Field at 4:30 PM to be on live television. Give reaction to the events and participate in Olympic Trivia! Paid admission is required for participants. It will be Kids Eat Free Monday, with all kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, a bag of chips and a small soda. Tickets for all Gwinnett Braves home games are on sale now at the Coolray Field Box Office. Call (678) 277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com for more information.

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